Method and means for drying ink impressions in web presses



\ Dec. 1, 1931. c. F. DAUSMANN 1,834,147

METHOD AND MEANS FOR DRYING INK IMPRESSIONS IN WEB PRESSES Filed Jan.21, 1929 (Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [/zarlarifiawmmzn M ATTORN Y Dec. 1,1931. c. F. DAUSMANN 1,834,147

METHOD AND MEANS FOR DRYING INK IMPRESSIONS IN WEB PRESSES Filed Jan.21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jun ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1931. c. F. DAUSMANNMETHOD AND MEANS FOR DRYING INK IMPRESSIONS IN WEB PRESSES Filed Jan.21. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR larlwifiazumaizr 5 @5 04 ATTOR Y Dc.l, 1931.- c, DAUSMANN 1,834,147

METHOD AND MEANS FOR DRYING INK iMPRESSIONS IN WEB PRESSES Filed Jan.21, 1929 4 Sheets-Shet 4 INVENTOR fiar/zrifiazuma BY Au? ATTORNEYPatented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE on'nnnns 1;. mmsmmv,or OAK PARK, rumors This invention relates to an improved method andmeans for drying ink impressions in a web press, and has for its primaryobject and purpose to provide an ink drying method and means which ismore particularly designed for application and use in connection with amulti-color press wherein ink impressions in-a plurality of difierentcolors are successively applied to different sections of the websurface.

It is one of the principal objects of my new method to effect thethorough absorption of the ink of each color after the web leaves theprinting cylinder of one printing couple and beforethe section of theweb which has received the ink impression reaches the next printingcouple where ink impressions of a contrasting color are applied, andwithout deflecting the web from its line of movement or subjecting thesame to the action of heat which would have such resultant effects uponthe paper web as to prevent proper registration of the web with thecylinders of the successive printing couples.

In carrying out my proposed method,

a practical embodiment thereof, the moving paper web, after havingreceived the ink impression from one printin cylinder, is supportedagainst deflection om its plane. of

movement while a suitable pressure is ap-.

plied against the inked surface of the supported area .of the paper weband directly upon the ink, without retarding or impeding the continuousmovement of the-web so that the ink is thereby caused to impregnate thepaper and be rapidly absorbed by the web fibers. Therefore,when'inkimpressions of a different color are applied to the surface of themoving web by a second printing cylinder and in close juxtaposition tothe ink impressions of the preceding cylinder, the

running together or the shading of the ink of one color into that of acontrasting color, is entirely obviated.

The invention also has for a further object to provide a simple andeflicient mechanical means for carrying out this new method, in which Ipreferably provide a web support between the spaced printing couplescontacting with one-side of the web and mov- Application filed January21, 1929. Serial No. 383,778.

ing therewith at the same linear speed together with means arranged inopposition to this web support for directing a multiplicity of lowpressure jets of air at each of a plurality of spaced points between theprinting couples against the printed surface of the we lVith the aboveand other objects in view,

the invention consists in the improved meth- 0d and means for drying inkimpressions in web presses as will be hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporatedin the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have disclosed one simple and practicalembodiment of the apparatus for carrying out my new method,

and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,-

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a multicolor printing press showingone application of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing one pair of printing couples of thepress and the ink drying means arranged therebetween;

Fig. 3 is a detail section on an enlarged scale taken substantially onthe line 3-3 of F i 2;

lEig. 4 is an elevation of a conventional type of blower and an airdistributing nozzle connected therewith to' distribute air in equalvolume and uniform pressure to the opposite ends of jet delivery pipes;

' Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the distributing nozzles, and

Fig. 6 is' a longitudinal sectional view thereof takenon the line 66 ofFig. 5.

In Fig.1 of the drawings, I have illustrated an arrangement of printingcouples in a web press in two sets for printing upon the 0pposite sidesof the paper web in four colors in one movement of the web through thepress. As shown, each set of printing couples consists of two pairs arred in laterally spaced relation and each pair having an upper couple 5and 5' respectively and a lower couple 6 and 6' respectively. Eachcouple includes the usual printing cylinder having an inta'glio oretched surface to ehgage one side or the paper web and a pressurecylinder engaging the opposite side of the web. Ink of different colorsis supplied to the several cylinders by any suitable means. Thus, of thecylinders printing upon each side of the web, the upper cylinder 5mayused.

Between the upper and lower printing couple in each set, a webregistering device is arranged for the purpose of securing properregistration between the difierent sections of the surface of the paperweb which receive the ink impressions from the successive printingcylinders. The construction and arrangement of these web registeringdevices may be generally similar to that disclosed in Patent No.1,482,856, issued January 29, 1924, to my assignee, The PrismatoneCompany, Inc., and therefore, requires no detail description in thisapplication. For the-purposes of the present explanation, it willsuffice to state that each registering device includes an endlesstraveling blanket '7 surfaced with rubber on its outer side and havingone stretch thereof movable over the surface of a rigidly supportedmetal plate 8 extending substantially the entire length and width ofsaid blanket. The outer face of this stretch of the moving. blanketengages one side of the paper web for substantially the entire distancebetween the upper and lower printing couples in each pair.

Through the medium of suitable gearing the blanket 7 is driven at thesame linear speed as the movement of the paper web through the press sothat no relative movement between the section of the paper web engagedwith the blanket and saidblanket will occur, which relative movementwould tend to stretch or tear the paper web.

At vertically spaced points between the upper and lower printing couplesin each pair and closely adjacent to the impression receiving surface ofthe paper web which extends between the printing couples, a plurality oftransversely positioned tubes or pipes 9 are suitably supported, saidpipes extending entirely across the press and projecting at theiropposite ends beyond the side edges of the paper web and the blanket 7.The interior of each of these tubes is centrally divided by the plugindicated at 10 and the wall of each tube opposed to the'surface of theweb is pro-- vided with the jet orifices indicated at 11 which vary indiameter from the opposite ends of the tube to its central portion sothat the air jets discharged through said orifices would be ofsubstantially equal pressure. Various means may be provided for supplyofthe upper printing couple 5. It then moves I downwardly together withone stretch of the blanket 7 with which the web is engaged and receivesits next impression from the cylinder of the lower printing couple 6.The web then moves upwardly over one side of a second endlessregistering blanket 7 which is of greater length than the blanket 7positioned between the printing couples and extends above the latter.The web then passes over the upper stretch of a horizontally positionedblanket 7, then downwardly to the cylinder of the upper printing couple5 where it receives the third colored ink impression and over the secondregistering'blanket 7 to the cylinder of the lower printing couple 6where the final color impression is made. From this printing couple, theweb then passes upwardly with a second moving blanket 7 and is thenguided laterally over suitable supporting rollers indicated at 13 to thesecond set of printing couples where the web traverses'substantially asimilar course and the four color impressions are made on the oppositesurfaces of the web, after which the web finally leaves the press fromthe guiding or directing roller indicated at 14.

With each of the web supporting blankets 7 which are mounted in closerelation to the blanket 7, a vertically spaced series of the air jetdistributing .pipes or tubes 9 is also associated. Preferably, there arefive of these tubes in each series each delivering the spaced airpressure jets across the entire width of the paper web while the Web isin contact with the moving blanket, which in turn is supported by therigidly fixed metal plate 8. Thus, it will be apparent that the paperweb cannot yield or flex in a direction at right angles to the plane of.its movement.

While various means may be provided for supplying the jet deliveringtubes 9 with air at low pressure, in the present instance, I have showna conventional type of blower 15 which is associated with each set ofprinting couples for printing on one side of the paper web. This bloweris therefore, provided with means for equally distributing the airdelivered thereby to the twenty pipes 'or tubes 9. This means, as hereinshown, preferably consists in 'the nozzle of the construction shown indetail in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. 'The body of this nozzle has afrustoconical Wall 16 provided with a neck 17 at its smaller end forconnection with the out-' inner conical wall 20 extending inwardly andin divergent relation tothe wall of the nozzle body 16. The outer orlarger end of this wall 20 is surrounded by an outwardly projecting rimor flange integral with said wall and provided with tapering pockets 21terminating at their smaller ends in the nipples 22 projecting beyondthe end of the wall 20. The larger ends of these pockets 21 communicatewith the "space between the wall 20 and the body wall 16 of the nozzle.With each of the nipples 22 one end of a flexible hose or tube 23 isconnected, the other end of each hose receiving one end of one of thejet pipes or tubes 9.

In the smaller end of the conical wall 20 of the nozzle head of theblower a length of pipe 24 is suitably fixed and with the outer end ofthis pipe a centrally orificed cap member 25 is connected. This orificeis normally closed by a valve plate 26 yieldingly held against movementrelative to the wall of the cap by the spring 27. An adjusting screw 28is mounted in a suitably formed part fixed on the cap member and hasbearing engagement-with one end of the sprin 27 whereby the tension ofthis spring mayie regulated. Thus, the pressure of the air deliveredfrom the blower to the several tubes 23 and hence to the pipes or tubes9 may be controlled, and when such pressure exceeds apredeterminedlimit,the valve plate 26 willbe lifted to permit 'of the escape of theexcess pressure through the orifice of thefcap 25.. It will however, beunderstood that any other suitable or convenient means may be providedfor regulating the blower pressure supplied to the jet delivery tubes 9.It is important that the pressure of the air as it is delivered throughthe jets 11 shall not be too great, as this would have a tendency tospread the fluid ink laterally on the surface of the paper web. It isdesirable therefore, to so regulate the operation of the blower thatthere will be a gentle pressure of air at substantially room temperaturedistributed more or less uniformlyupon the inked-surface of the paperweb at a plurality of vertically spaced points between the upper andlower printing couples during the travel of the web with the movingblanket. I have shown one form of the mechanical apparatus, which inpractical use, has given very satisfaptory service.

' It is not possible, in a multi-color web press to use either steam orhot air for the purpose of drying the ink, since the change in tem-' Iperature of the paper web resultsin the ex-- pan'sion of the sheet tosuch an extent that perfect registration of the different colors wouldnot be obtained, notwithstanding the useof the registerin devicesbetween the spaced printing coup es. However, I have been able to insurethe complete drying of the. ink impressions with the use of air jets atlow pressure, and by releasing a large number of the closely spaced airjets across the moving web at a plurality of vertically spaced points,each impression is repeatedly acted upon by the air jets and the ink ismechanically driven I into the body of the web sheet to be absorbed bythe fibers thereof. Thus, even in the highest speed operation of such apress, the ink impressions of one color will be thoroughly dry beforethe ink impressions of a contrasting color are applied. Thus, Icompletely avoid the possibility of non-registration'and also obviatethe admixture or runthe several advantages thereof particularly when.used in connection with multi-color presses of this type will be fullyunderstood.

It is apparent of course, that the method is likewise applicable topresses of various other types and in which the spaced printing couplesmay be otherwise mounted and arranged than as indicated in theaccompanying drawings.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that in so far as the mechanicalfeatures of the present disclosure are concerned, various changes indetail and in the'application and arrangement of the apparatus withrespect to the traveling web or sheet, as well as possible variations orequivalents for the several novel steps of my new method mightberesorted to. I therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting variouschanges in these particulars, as may supporting the paper web at oneside thereof and substantially for the entire distance between thespaced printing couples against de flection from its plane of movement,and subjecting the opposite printed side of the paper web to'a gentlefluid pressure acting directly upon the ink to cause the same to besubstantially wholly absorbed by the web fibers.

2.-A method of drying ink impressions in a web press having verticallyspaced print- 11! couples each consisting of a printing cy der and apresser roll which consists in supportingthepaper web atone side thereofand substantially for the entire distance be- A tween the spacedprinting couples against deflection from its plane of movement, andmeans for subjecting the opposite printed side of the paper web at aplurality of spaced points between the printing couples to thenction ofa multiplicity of low pressure a1r jets whereby the ink impressions arerepeatedly acteduponby a comparatively gentle pressure causing the fluidink to impregnate the web and be substantially wholly absorbed by thefibers thereof;

3. In combination with a web press having vertically spaced printingcouples each eoni sisting of a printing cylinder and a presser roll, arigid backing plate at one side of the web extending substantially theentire vertical distance between the printing couples and preventing del ction of the web in one direction from its plane of movement, andmeans extending across the paper web at the opposite side thereof fordelivering unheated air at low pressure against the printed surface ofthe web tithereby cause the fluid ink to impregnate the Web and besubstantially wholly absorbed by the fibers thereof.

4. In combination with a web press having vertically spaced printingcouples each consisting of a printing cylinder and a presser roll, arigid backing plate at one side of the web extending substantially theentire vertical distance between the printing couples and preventingdeflection of the web in one direction from its plane of movement, and aplurality of vertically spaced air jet delivery tubes extending-acrossthe paper web at the an opposite side thereof each delivering a mulwtiplicity of unheated air jets iiat low pressure against the moving webin direction substantially at right angles to said backing plate,said'air jets exerting a relatively en- 85 tle pressure directlyupon thefluid n to cause the same to impregnate the web sheet and besubstantially wholly absorbed by the fibers thereof. I I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 4.0 is my invention, I havesigned iny name ereto. i

CHARLES F. nAUsiiANN.

